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John M. Gerrard

John M. Gerrard
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
Incumbent
Assumed office February 6, 2023
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
In office November 1, 2018 – July 15, 2021
Preceded by	Laurie Smith Camp
Succeeded by	Robert F. Rossiter Jr.
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
In office February 6, 2012 – February 6, 2023
Appointed by	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Richard G. Kopf
Succeeded by	Susan M. Bazis
Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court
In office 1995–2012
Appointed by	Ben Nelson
Preceded by	C. Thomas White
Succeeded by	William B. Cassel
Personal details
Born	John Melvin Gerrard (1953-11-02) November 2, 1953 (age 70) Schuyler, Nebraska, U.S.
Education	Nebraska Wesleyan University (BS) University of Arizona (MPA) University of the Pacific (JD)

John Melvin Gerrard (born November 2, 1953) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska.

Education and legal career[edit]

Gerrard graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Science in 1976; from the University of Arizona with a Masters in Public Administration in 1977; and from McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific with a Juris Doctor in 1981. He is a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.^[1] Prior to joining the bench, he was in private practice in Norfolk, Nebraska from 1981 to 1995 and was city attorney for Battle Creek, Nebraska from 1982 to 1995.^[1][2]

Judicial service[edit]

Nebraska Supreme Court[edit]

In 1995, Governor Ben Nelson appointed Gerrard to the Nebraska Supreme Court.^[2] At 41 years of age, Gerrard was the youngest ever appointee to the Nebraska Supreme Court.^[2] He left the court in 2012 upon appointment to the federal bench.

Federal judicial service[edit]

In January 2011, then Senator Ben Nelson, recommended Gerrard to fill a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska that would be vacated later that year by Judge Richard G. Kopf.^[2] On May 4, 2011, President Barack Obama formally nominated Gerrard to replace Kopf on the federal bench.^[3][4] The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary reported Gerrard's nomination to the Senate floor on October 13, 2011. The Senate confirmed Gerrard's nomination on January 23, 2012, by a 74–16 vote.^[5] He received his commission on February 6, 2012.^[1] He served as chief judge from 2018 to 2021.^[1] Gerrard assumed senior status on February 6, 2023.^[1][6]

See also[edit]

• Nebraska Supreme Court

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• John M. Gerrard at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• John M. GerrardatBallotpedia
• State Judicial Branch. Legislature of Nebraska. Accessed 2011-02-01.
• Honorable John M. Gerrard. Nebraska Supreme Court. Accessed 2011-02-01.
• Phi Kappa Tau Hall of Fame. Phi Kappa Tau. Accessed 2011-02-01.